Warp selecting and separating mechanism.



W. DOBSON. WARP SELECTING AND SEPAHATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.2I, 1914-, RENEWED FEB. 1,1917- Pat-ented Apr. 29,1919.

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W. DOBSON. WARP SELECTING AND SEPARATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED [150.21. 1914. RENEWED FEB. 1,19n.

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Z SHEETS Patented Aprf29 @W/Yll/ll/l/l/l Ji Ma QQQN KW W fi 1% W WILLIAM DOBSON', OF BLACKBURN, ENGLAND.

WARPSELEGTING AND SEPARATING- MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 29 M319.

Application filed December 21, 1914, Serial No. 878,392. Renewed February 1, 1917. Serial No. 145,997.

To all whom it ma concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM DOBSON, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and resident of Blackburn, Lancashire, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Warp Selecting and Separating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved method of and means for selecting and separating the warp threads in the preparation of the warp for looms for weaving. A particular way in which my invention can be applied-is in the operation of drawing the warp threads through the heddles and reed of looms; or, alternatively, through the harness and reed of looms. The method in general use, is to have a warpbeam, on which warp threads are wound, carried horizontally in brackets which are fixed to the top and back of what isknown as a drawing-in frame.

The warp threads of the'beam are hung vertically and placed through a coarse comb or reed having an adjustable back (known as a striking comb). Heddle staves and reed are attached to the front of the drawing-in frame. The operation of drawing the warp threads through the heddles and through the reed is as follows: Sitting in front of the heddles and reed is the operator (drawer-in) who places a double hook (known as a drawingin hook) simultaneously through each of two heddle eyes. It is then the duty of a young person, who sits at the back of the frame, to place one or threads uponeach of the twohooks of the drawing-in hook; in accordance with the instructions (as to order and number of threads) of the drawer-in. The selected threads, having been placed by the young person on to the drawing-in hook, are then drawn by the drawer-in through the heddle eyes, and, at the same time, by the aid of a dent hook, through the required dent of the reed. The operation is repeated until all the warp threads of the beam are selected and drawn through the desired heddle eyes and through the desired dents of the reed.

The present invention consists of a new or improved construction of mechanism for selecting and separating the warp threads and for keeping the selecting and separating mechanism in suitable juxtaposition to the stationary warp threads as the work procoeds. It also consists in means whereby the The invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings as adapted to the operation ofdrawing the warp threads through the heddles and reed of a loom, or alternatively, through the harness and reed of a loom.

Figure 1 illustrates a front elevation, and

Fig. 2 an end elevation of a warp drawing in frame, with the improved warp thread selecting and separating mechanism applied thereto.

Fig. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional elevation of a part of the frame, and of the selecting and separating mechanism to a larger scale. V

Fig. 4 illustrates a plan of the selecting and separating mechanism apart from the frame.

Fig. 5 illustrates an inverted plan of the mechanism.

Fig. 6 illustrates a plan view of Fig. 4e, while Fig. 7 illustrates a transverse section of Fig. at on line m-m.

Fig. 8 illustrates a further plan view (partly broken away), but showing certain of the parts in a different position to that shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the warp threads of the warp beam 1 are held vertically and with suitable tensionbetween the clamps 2, 2 and 3, 3 the contacting faces of such clamps being faced with plush or like material. The clamps 3 3 are made adjustable so as to allow the tension on the warp threads to be regulated in such manner that the warp threads may be easily withdrawn, singly or otherwise, by the operators drawing hook. A frame a carrying a metal bar is placed immediately behind and slightly above the back row of heddle eyes and is pressed against the back of the line of warp threads, the whole of such warp threads lying parallel to each other along the whole length of the said bar 5. To the frame l is also attached a metal bar 6 upon which slides (or runs) the warp thread selector mechanism.

The warp selector mechanism is mounted to run or slide upon the bar 6 by means ofgrooved wheels 7, 8 and 9, and is controlled by the operator pressing upon a treadle 11, extending across the frame, which, through a link 12, actuates a lever 13, this latter at the end of its free and longer arm, and a like lever at the other end of the frame, carrying a vibrator rod 14 which engages the V shaped end of a slide 15 forming part of the selector mechanism. A spring 14 serves to return the slide and treadle after being released by the operator. The wheels 7 and 8 of the selector mechanism are mounted on upright studs secured to the base plate 16 at each rear end corner, the metal of the plate being bent back on itself to form the bearing for the top ends of the studs, see Fig. 6. The wheel 9 is mounted upon an upright stud carried by a lever arm 17, such lever arm at one end being pivoted to the plate 16 and being movable in a plane parallel with the plate 16. At its free end the lever arm is connected by a spring 18 to fixed part of the plate 16, and by such spring the wheels 7, 8 and 9 are caused to frictionally grip the bar 6, and hold the selector mechanism thereto.

Upon the plate 16 is the slide 15, which is adapted to move to and fro transversely of the plate 16, being provided with a depending spur 15 (see Fig. 7), which extends through a straight-sided slot 16 in the plate 16, and which engages a rod 19 slidably mounted in spurs 16 16 beneath the plate 16, see Fig. 5. The said slide at its rear end is bent downward and then upward, see Fig. 7 and the downwardly bent portion is also secured to the rod 19, the rod serving both as a guide and also to hold the slide to the plate 16. At its free end the slide is of V shape, see Fig. 7, to receive the vibrator rod 14.

Pivoted upon the slide 15 is a lever 20, the forward end of which is formed with teeth 21, such lever being hereinafter referred to as the comb lever. Depending from this comb lever and projecting through a slot 22 in the base plate 16 is a pin 23. A spiral spring 23 connects the rear and shorter end of the comb lever to a branch arm 15 of the slide 15, see Figs. 4 and 8.

A selector hook 2 1 having a spur 21- is also pivoted upon the slide 15. the hook being preferably carried by a holder 25, which is pivoted to the slide by a pin 26. To the shorter arm of the holder 25 and to a projection on the slide 15 is connected a spiral spring 27, the normal tension of which is such as to lightly hold the forward end of the hook against the warp threads, see Fig. 4. Extending downward from the selector hookholder 25, and through a slot 28 in the plate 16, is a projection 29, see Fig. 5. A warp thread feeler lever 30 is also pivoted, by a pin 31, to the plate 16, the forward and free end of the lever extending a slight distance beyond the front edge of the plate 16, and being adapted to normally lie against the endmost warp thread, see Fig. 4. lVhile the selector hook 2 1 will preferably lie above the plate 16, the feeler lever will lie v the plate, so that both may come against the endmost warp thread.

Formed integral with the grooved wheel 8 is a ratchet wheel 32, actuated by a pawl 38, this latter being pivot-ally mounted upon the slide 15. Upon the pawl is a projection 31-, which extends through a slot 35 in the plate 16, and against which the feeler lever, at times, bears under the tension of a spring 36 to hold the pawl in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 32.

Upon its front edge the plate 16 is formed with serrations 16 of which there will be preferably three or more in number. The front edge of the plate 16 will be stepped back from the line of serrations at the point where the selector hook and feeler lever come, see Fig. 4c.

The use of the improved mechanism is as mounted upon the drawing-in frame and that the warp threads have been laid nicely parallel across the bar 5, and also that the selector mechanism has been placed in position on the bar 6 to take the first of the threads about to be selected and drawn through the heddlcs and reed by the operator, the treadle 11 is pressed downward by the operator, thus moving the slide 15 forward, and causing the selector hook 24: to select th first thread. Owing to the shape of the slot 28, and the pin 29 coming against the edges of such slot as the slide and hook move forward, the hook first moves straight forward and by means of the spur 24* engages the first thread and frees it from the feeler lever, and then moves diagonally forward until the selected thread is brought over the first tooth or serration of the plate 16, see Fig. 8. The thread being selected and carried over the first serration, the treadle 11 is released, whereupon, the slide 15, under the action of the spring 1 1?, is drawn back and with it the selector hook. In thus drawing back the hook, the selected thread is left on, and held by, such first tooth or serration of the plate 16, while, as soon as the point of the hook clears the selected thread, it moves diagonally back to its original position above the feeler lever.

Upon the treadle 11 being again depressed, a second thread is taken by the selector hook, and left on the first serration. lVhile this second thread is being selected and transferred to the first serration, the comb lever 20 is moved diagonally forward (this being by one along the teeth or serrations is continned until each tooth of the plate 16 holds a a thread. When so separated and held the threads are in the proper positions (see Fig. 1) for being drawn through the heddle eyes and the reed by the operator. The rate at which the operator can draw the selected threads through the heddle eyes and reed determines the speed at which he selects the threads by the process of pressing and releasing the treadle 11.

The operations of the feeler lever 30, ratchet wheel 32 and pawl33 will now be explained. The spiral spring 36 causes the feeler lever to gently press against the warp thread which happens to be the next to be selected by the selector took 24. As each Warp thread is taken up by the hook and placed in the first serration, the feeler lever, under the influence of the spring 36 moves toward and. against theneXt unselected warp thread, this movement also bringing the feeler lever into contact with the projection 34 on the pawl 33, and causing such pawl to engage the ratchet wheel 32. As the slide 15 makes its return movement, the pawl 33 imparts apartial rotation of the wheel 82. This partial rotation of the ratchet wheel causes the whole selector mechanism to move along the bar 6 toward the unselected warp threads and the feeler lever against the end warp thread, the resistance of which causes the lever to lie clear of the projection 34 on the pawl 33 until more threads have been selected. From this it will be seen that the selector mechanism moves along the bar 6 intermittently and that while the plate 1.6 is stationar a number of threads are being selected, the plate 16 moving forward toward the unselected warp threads and then remaining stationary for a period, and so on continuously. until. all the warp threads of the beam are selected, and drawn through the desired heddles and reed by the operators d ra win g-in hook.

When it is desired to collect the threads in twos, threes or other number for the purpose of drawing in several threads through one heddle eye, the required number of threads may be collected together on the last tooth or serration of the plate 16, by continuing to operate the selector mechanism after there is a thread on each of the teeth 16 whereupon the thread on the last tooth is retained and as each succeeding thread is passed for- Ward it also is retained on the last tooth until the required number of threads are col lected together.

Although described as applied to the operation of drawing warp threads through the heddles and reed of a loom, it will be understood that the improved mechanism may be applied to other thread selecting and separating purposes. An endless band may encircle pulleys 7 8 on the axes of the wheels 7 and 8, so as to transmit motion from one i to the other, see Fig. 6.

What I claim is 1. Mechanism for selecting and separating threads, comprising in combination, a base plate having serrations or teeth on one edge, a selector hook movable forwardly and diagonally across the plate, a comb lever also movable forwardly and diagonally across the plate, a feeler lever pivoted to the plate, means for moving the selector hook and comb lever to and fro, and springs for holding the selector hook, the comb lever and the feeler lever yieldingly in their normal posit-ions, the said base plate having slots with beveled and straight sides, and the selector hook and comb lever having projections which pass through the slots, substantially as herein set forth.

2. Mechanism for selecting and separating threads comprising in combination, a base plate having serrations or teeth on'one edge, a selector hook movable forwardly and diagonally across the plate, a comb lever also movable forwardly and diagonally across the plate, a feeler lever pivoted to the plate, means for moving the selector hook and comb lever to and fro and springs for holding the selector hook, the comb lever, and the feeler lever yieldingly in their normal positions, the said base plate having slots with beveled and straight sides, and the selector hook and comb lever having projections which pass through the slots, a. pair of flanged wheels axially supported on the said base plate, a lever pivotally mounted on the base plate, a further flanged wheel axially supported by the said lever, and a spring for drawing the said lever and wheel toward the said pair of flanged wheels, a ratchet wheel integral with one of the said pair of wheels, a pawl for such ratchet wheel pivotally mounted upon the said selector hook operating means, and having a lateral projection against which the feeler lever bears at times, substantially as herein set forth.

3. Mechanism for selecting and separatlever having projections extending through the slots, a feeler lever pivotally mounted on the base plate, and a spring for acting upon the lever, a thread frame and a guide bar mounted on a thread frame to receive the base plate, a vibrator rod loosely fitting in the V-shaped part of the slide and a foot treadle and intermediate connecting means for operating such rod to cause the slide to move to and fro, substantially as herein set forth.

4. Mechanism for selecting and separating threads comprising, a frame and pairs of clamps to receive and hold the threads yieldingly in tension, said frame having a guide bar between the pairs of clamps, thread-selecting and separating devices, actuating mechanism therefor, means whereby said devices may travel frictionally along said guide bar, and mechanism for intermittently propelling said devices along the bar, said selecting and separating devices comprising a base having means to retain selected and separated threads in position, a selector hook and comb lever movable forwardly and diagonally across the base, a reciprocating member on said base adapted to actuate said selector hook and comb and a feeler lever on the base by which the said reciprocating member is operably coupled to the before-named propelling mechanism under the control of the unselected warp threads, as set forth.

5. Mechanism for selecting and separating threads comprising in combination, a base plate having serrations or teeth on one edge, a selector hook movable forwardly and diagonally across the plate, a comb lever also movable forwardly and diagonally across the plate, a feeler lever pivoted to the plate, means for moving the selector hook and comb lever to and fro, and springs for holding the selector hook, the comb lever, and the feeler lever yieldingly in their normal positions, the said base plate having slots with beveled and straight sides and the selector hook and comb lever having projections which pass through the slots, a pair of flanged Wheels axially supported on the said base plate, a lever pivotally mounted on the base plate, a further flanged wheel axially supported by the said lever, and a spring for drawing the said lever and wheel toward the said pair of flanged wheels, a ratchet wheel integral with one of the said pair of wheels, a pawl for such ratchet wheel pivotally mounted upon said selector hook operating means, and having a lateral projection against which the feeler lever bears, a thread frame having a guide bar upon which the said .parts are mounted by means of the flanged wheels said frame having also clamps by which the threads to be selected are held, a vibrator rod engaging the selector mechanism and a foot treadle and intermediate connecting means for such rod, substantially as herein set forth.

6. Mechanism for selecting and separat ing threads, comprising in combination, a base plate with serrations or teeth in its edge, a slide plate on such base plate and.

having a V-shaped part, a selector hook pivotally mounted on the slide, a comb lever also pivotally mounted on the slide, said base plate having slots and the hook and lever having projections extending through the slots, a feeler lever pivotally mounted on the base plate, and a spring for acting upon the lever, a guide bar mounted on a thread frame to receive the base plate, a vibrator rod loosely fitting in the V-shaped part of the slide and a foot treadle and intermediate connecting means for operatin such rod to cause the slide to move to an fro, substantially as herein set forth.

7. In mechanism for selecting and separating threads, a base member having a plurality of serrations, means for positioning and tensioning threads, means operable to select the threads successively and position them one at a time in the first of the serrations in said base member, and means to transfer the first selected thread from the first of said serrations to the next adjacent serration of the base'member.

8. Inmechanism for selecting and separating threads, a base member having a plurality of serrations, means for positioning and tensioning threads, means operable to select the threads successively and position them one at a time in the first of the serrations in said base member, and means to transfer the threads from'the first of said serrations to the next adjacent serration simultaneously with the selection and positioning of a thread in said first serration.

9. In mechanism for selecting and separating threads, a base member having a plurality of serrations, means for positioning and tensioning threads, means operable to select the threads successively and position them one at a time in the first of the serrations in said base member, and means to transfer. the selected threads successively to each serration from the first to the last until a number of threads have been positioned in the last of the serrations of the base member.

10. In mechanism for selecting and separating threads, a base member-having a plurality of serrations, means for positioning and tensioning threads, means operable to select the threads successively and position them one at a time in the first of the serrations in said base member, means to transfer 11. In a mechanism for selecting and sepaadapted to transfer the threads successively 10 rating threads, comprising a base member to each serration from the first to the last. having a plurality of serrations, means for In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my positioning and tensioning threads, means hand in the presence of two Witnesses. including a, selector hook operable to select the threads successively and take them one at WILLIAM DOBSON' a time and position them one at a time in Witnesses:

the first of the serrations in said base mem- WM. G. STONES,

her, and means including a comb lever F. GILLETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington. D. G. 

